Olympus reviving four third?

[Hacker]

I can use a FF camera, crop the picture and claim extra reach. Nothing against the 43 format, but it was born at the time FF sensors were very expensive. So it did make some $$ sense. Has anyone seen the price of the 90-250mm or even the 300mm?

I can currently use the Nikon J1 which is 2.7x and use a 500mm f/4 to claim super long telephoto.

 

[rhema83]

Yes, Four-Thirds, not micro Four-Thirds.

There are four or five decent micro Four-Thirds fixed focal length lenses. The zooms are all compromises.

Olympus and Panasonic were hesitant to build big expensive zoom lenses after what happened with the SHG 4/3 zooms. Those lenses were absolutely brilliant, but they cost a bomb and weigh a tank. Sales were far from enough to recoup the R&D costs. Thus, they only dared slowly venture back into more expensive and higher quality lenses for m4/3. It started with the 12mm f/2.0, 25mm f/1.4 and 45mm f/2.8 macro. Voigtlander joined in the fray (and helped test the market) with its hot 25mm f/0.95. When the manufacturers saw the enthusiastic reception of these good and pricey prime lenses, they re-enter the high-quality zoom arena with m4/3.

From the reviews, the new Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 is as good as the industry standard 24-70mm f/2.8 pro zooms. It has got metal construction, weather sealing, multi-layer coating, image stabilisation (which Canon and Nikon offerings have lacked for years), sharp throughout. If that is any indication, the subsequent 35-100mm f/2.8 should be on the same level as the best DSLR equivalents. Together with the 7-14mm f/4 (unfortunately not f/2.8) they form a pretty formidable combo.

 

[NazgulKing]

Olympus does not have something like the cult of Leica where they can introduce a 7150USD lens 50mm APO Summicron and get away with it. In fact, if Olympus went that route, none of the 43 users will even be here saying anything at all because they wouldn't be able to afford it. We all like lenses to be tack sharp, but when you cannot sell your product well enough to allow your brand to gain traction, you are dead. If anything, Olympus' mistake was going away from the OM format. The effects of that decision still reverberate till today.

 

[microcosm]

How about a mirrorless body with regular 43 mount with a larger 43 sensor.

If the sensor size change, it will no longer be Four Thirds standard. It is mount and sensor size that makes the platform... though it will be interesting to know what kind of new technology sensors will be used in the new bodies. With the OM-D, it was a brilliant decision to bring in Sony sensors. Let's see what is next... exciting times ahead.

But with the new flagship Four Thirds camera, likely there will be no jaw dropping breakthrough... probably a large OM-D... and probably nothing more.

 

[elgkh]

Sounds like they want to sell more 4/3rds lenses. I doubt that there will be a replacement for the E5 though.